MULTIPLE EXTRACTION OF CAFFEINE FROM LIPTON BLACK TEA LEAVES BY

USE OF DICHLOROMETHANE

Padilla D. Alyssa, Pang Khrystine, Phillips M. Xyra, Sangalang A. Kyle, Sarrosa L. Isabelle
and Supe S. Mikhael

Group 6 2A Pharmacy Organic Chemistry Laboratory

ABSTRACT

Caffeine was isolated through the use of the multiple extraction method. 10 g of tea leaves
along with 100 mL of distilled water in a 500 mL beaker was boiled. The aqueous solution
was extracted three times using 20 mL of dichloromethane each time. The organic layer
containing dichloromethane was obtained by use of filter paper containing anhydrous
sodium sulfate into an evaporating dish and covering it with filter paper that has small holes
to evaporate to dryness. The percentage recovery computed was 0.2% by getting the ratio
of the weight of caffeine and the weight of the tea leaves used and multiplying it by a
hundred.

INTRODUCTION separatory funnel, beaker, glass rod,

Caffeine is a substance or compound
that acts as a stimulant and can be found
naturally in tea, coffee, chocolate, kola
nuts in cola, and is added to carbonated
drinks, food, and medicines.
Extraction is a method of separating a
certain substance from a mixture. It uses
two immiscible phases to separate the
substance from one phase into the other.
There are two types of extraction: single
and multiple extraction. The type of
extraction used for this study was Multiple
Extraction.
The objectives of this experiment are to
isolate the caffeine from the dried tea
leaves through the method of multiple
extraction and record the weight of the
used dried tea leaves to compute for the
percentage recovery.
evaporating dish, iron stand, iron ring,
iron clamp, teabags, sodium carbonate,
dichloromethane, and sodium sulfate.
First, in a 500 milliliter beaker, the
researchers placed 4.4 grams of
anhydrous sodium carbonate and 100
milliliters of distilled water and heated in a
water bath until the solid dissolved. When
the solid (anhydrous sodium carbonate)
dissolved, 10 grams of tea leaves from tea
bags (approximately 5 tea bags) was
added to the said mixture. The flask was
covered and the tea mixture was boiled
for 10 minutes on a low flame.
Afterwards, the cheesecloth was removed
and the liquid was squeezed out by
pressing the stirring rod against the
cheese cloth. The extract was cooled down
until it reached room temperature.
Figure 1.0

EXPERIMENTAL

A. Test Compound/s (or

Sample/s) used

10 grams of Lipton Black tea leaves

B. Procedure

The materials needed for the

experiment were: Bunsen burner,
 For the multiple extraction proper, the
tea mixture was transferred to a
separatory funnel. 20 milliliters of
dichloromethane was added to the tea
mixture and the contents of the funnel
were swirled slowly. The method was
done for approximately 2 minutes until
the separation between the two layers
became clearly visible. The
dichloromethane was drained out of the
funnel and placed in an evaporating dish.
This was done three times because the
method used was multiple extraction.

Figure 1.2

After the multiple extraction proper, the

organic layer (dichloromethane layer) was
filtered into the evaporating dish using
filter paper containing half a spatula of
anhydrous sodium sulfate. Then, the
evaporating dish containing the extract
was covered with filter paper that had
small holes to evaporate

RESULTS

In order to calculate for the percentage

recovery, the researchers recorded the
weight of the following

Figure 1.3 Table 1. Data needed in order to

calculate for the percentage recovery

WEIGHT OF grams
Tea leaves used 10.02 g
Evaporating dish + 116.50 g
caffeine
Empty evaporating 116. 48 g
dish
caffeine 0.02 g

By using the values above, the percentage

recovery of 0.2% was computed by using
the formula:

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑒
𝑥 100 = % 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑒𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑

0.02 𝑔
𝑥 100 = 0.2%
10.02 𝑔

Figure 1.4
DISCUSSION
The technique of using dichloromethane
for extracting caffeine from tea leaves was
proven to be efficient. The fact that
caffeine is more soluble in
dichloromethane (140mg/ml) than in
water (22 mg/ml) proves that
dichloromethane is very effective at
extracting caffeine.
The errors made during the experiment
were spillage, loss of liquid from
transferring, stain of liquid on the
cheesecloth, and bubbles. The tea extract
spilled during the transfer of liquid from
the beaker to another beaker and some of
the liquid were left on the original beaker
which contribute to percentage loss.
Another factor is the stain of liquid on the
cheesecloth. When the researchers were
squeezing out the liquid from the tea
leaves in the cheese cloth, it left a huge
stain on the cheese cloth, therefore
affecting percentage loss again. The
bubbles at the bottom of the funnel during
the swirling of the funnel also contributes
to percentage loss. The “bubbles”
mentioned is an emulsion, which happens
when a liquid is dissolved in another
liquid, in this case it is water and DCM.
REFERENCES
[5] Extraction – Organic Lab (2013,
October 6). Retrieved October 1, 2018,
from
https://lehighcheme.wordpress.com/2013
/10/16/extraction-organic-lab/
From the internet
[1] Caffeine in Lipton Tea. (n.d.).
Retrieved October 2, 2018, from
https://www.caffeineinformer.com/caffein
e-content/lipton-tea
[2] Definition of Caffeine. (n.d.).
Retrieved September 29, 2018, from
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main
/art.asp?articlekey=11068
[3] Definition of Extraction. (n.d.).
Retrieved October 1, 2018, from
https://www.chemicool.com/definition/ext
raction.html
[4] Extraction of Caffeine from Tea.
(2011). Retrieved October 1, 2018, from
http://vlab.amrita.edu/?sub=3&brch=64&
sim=169&cnt=1
[5] Extraction – Organic Lab (2013,
October 6). Retrieved October 1, 2018,
from
https://lehighcheme.wordpress.com/2013
/10/16/extraction-organic-lab/

[1] Caffeine in Lipton Tea. (n.d.).

Retrieved October 2, 2018, from
https://www.caffeineinformer.com/caffein
e-content/lipton-tea

[2] Definition of Caffeine. (n.d.).

Retrieved September 29, 2018, from
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main
/art.asp?articlekey=11068

[3] Definition of Extraction. (n.d.).

Retrieved October 1, 2018, from
https://www.chemicool.com/definition/ext
raction.html

[4] Extraction of Caffeine from Tea.

(2011). Retrieved October 1, 2018, from
http://vlab.amrita.edu/?sub=3&brch=64&
sim=169&cnt=1